Dahl Headlands
Level: 18
Rewards: 2,400XP, $1,922, Grenade Mod
Unlocks: Powering the Fast Travel Network
Objectives: Rescue Lucky Zaford at the Last Chance Waterin' Hole
"You showed up at just the right time! Bandits decided to lay siege to the Last Chance Waterin' Hole to the south, and my friend Lucky is trapped inside! He called me for help just before you showed up. I wasn't sure what to do, but you're here now. Please, go help my friend."
As the Dahl Headlands consists mostly of barren wasteland, make sure you're using vehicles to get around; otherwise you'll be wasting time wandering around on foot. Having said that, to the left of Earnest is a garage in which you can spawn a vehicle, so do so and head into the wastelands by using the ramp directly in front of the garage. You'll want to head south until you reach Lucky's Last Chance Watering Hole, located here.
Upon arrival, you'll need to ditch your vehicle as you won't be able to get past the blockade. Here you need to make your way towards the waypoint marker while killing 15 Bandits which range from Thugs to Bruisers; there should be more than enough of them to fulfil the requirements. Once the area is clear of enemies, head into Lucky's store where you'll be confronted with a level 19 Badass Bruiser as you approach the entrance.
Once the Badass Bruiser is downed, enter the store, open the jail cell and speak with Lucky himself which will end the mission.
Speaking with Lucky will also grant you the next mission in the storyline:
Level: 20
Rewards: 2,376XP, $2,411
Unlocks: Road Warriors: Hot Shots
Objectives: Throw the Fast Travel breakers and flip the master switch
"I wanna get back to Ernest, but I can't face another bandit. Fast Travel would be okay, but it's been offline around here for ages. Mad Mel blocks Scooter from coming to fix it. If Fast Travel were working, we could instantly teleport to any New-U station we've ever visited, even the one next to Ernest's Emporium. Will you fix it, please? You just gotta climb the poles and throw the breakers, then hit the master switch over at the station. Easy, right?"
Exiting Lucky's store via the back entrance (the door opposite the one you came in) and turning right will lead you to another Garage, so use it to spawn a vehicle. Once done, head south towards the waypoint marker, following the power line overhead to reach the first breaker switch. Jump up onto the boulder, and then jump onto each platform until you reach the first switch which will need flipping once you get there. Once the switch has been flipped, Scythids will spawn from underneath the ground and will proceed to attack you. Simply jump in your vehicle and run them over to dispose of them quickly.
Follow your waypoint marker south again until you reach the second switch. Again, use the platforms to work your way upwards until you reach the switch. Once both switches have been flipped, head south and into the Dahl Headland Electrical Station. There will be plenty of Bandits guarding this area; one method of attack is to run in to the area, trigger the attack from the Bandits, run back out and jump into your vehicle. The Bandits will come running out of the entrance where your vehicle's weaponry will be awaiting. This method is probably a little more time-consuming than going in gung-ho, but it's a lot safer and more effective.
Once the Station is cleared of enemies, climb the stairs and flip the master switch. After you've flipped this switch, you'll receive a message regarding the Fast Travel network and it's availability. This allows you to fast-travel between areas which is extremely useful as it cuts out having to drive everywhere. You can now head back to Lucky to turn the mission in.
Level: 20
Rewards: 5,280XP, $4,823, Whitting's Elephant Gun
Prerequisites: Leaving Fyrestone
Objectives: Get some bait, place it outside the cave, then kill Skagzilla
"See all the giant bones? Dug them up myself. I thought these creatures were extinct until, down at Wellspring Bluff, I came across a skag bigger than any I had ever seen! Its diet of cesium cactus, Runner fuel, and of course, human flesh, seems to have endowed it with incredible mutations. Truly, Skagzilla is a marvel of adaptation and survival. So, I want you to acquire some bait, lure it out, and kill it!"
Skagzilla, much like Godzilla in stature, is a monster of a Skag (hence the "zilla" after its name) and can be difficult to bring down. Before we attempt this feat though, we need to lure it from its den by grabbing the roasted Skagzilla Bait which is located just north of Skagzilla's den. The bait will be guarded be several Bandits, but these shouldn't be too hard to handle if you’re in a vehicle. Pick up the bait that's roasting on the spit and take it to Skagzilla's den. To gain entry to said den, use the footbridge to the south of where the bait was, dropping down the hole at the end.
Once inside, it's advisable to break open all of the Skag piles scattered around this area as these contain ammo and health. When you feel ready to take on the beast, place the bait on the spike (located here). With that, you'll hear some intimidating roars and Skagzilla with emerge from his cave.
Despite his towering appearance, Skagzilla isn't too difficult if you know the mechanics of his attacks. The first thing to know is that he is resistant to all elemental damage, so there goes your super-powered Corrosive Shotgun out the window. He has five main attacks:
- Standard melee attack - if standing close to him, he'll simply swipe at you.
- Charge attack - if you're a moderate distance away from him, he’ll start up by dragging one of his front legs backwards which is the sign for you to start sprinting horizontally from him. If you started sprinting soon enough, he will run past you, but if you sprinted too late, he'll connect and send you flying, doing a moderate amount of damage.
- Jump attack - again, if you're a moderate distance away, he'll jump towards you sending out a painful shockwave when he lands. Simply jump before he lands to avoid any damage.
- Shock Spit - a simple spit mechanic, shooting shock-fuelled saliva in your direction. Nine times out of 10 he'll hit you with it, depleting your shield.
- Laser Beam attack - Skagzilla will stand and shoot a white laser from his head which will sweep from side to side. This doesn't actually inflict much damage, but merely standing to the side of him is enough to avoid this attack.
It's essential that you keep moving at all times as he can be extremely unforgiving if you're stationary. As his armour is practically impenetrable, you can gradually chip away at his health, but your best bet is to wait until he does his laser beam attack. When he does, make sure you aim for his head when it's open as this is your chance to score critical hits.
Once you've bested him, pick up any decent loot that he drops and exit the arena via the newly-opened door. Drive yourself back to Ernest where you'll be rewarded with his Elephant Gun; a sniper rifle that does a great deal of damage, but has a limited zoom.
Since we completed “Powering The fast Travel Network” mission earlier, a few side missions will have become available at Lucky’s Bounty Board which is located outside of Lucky’s Last Chance Watering Hole, so head there and accept all of the available missions.
Level: 18
Rewards: 4,800XP, $3844, Grenade Mod
Prerequisites: Powering the Fast Travel Network
Objectives: Destroy the Bandit Fuel Tanks
"The worst part about living out here isn't the frequent skag attacks, it's the traffic. And by traffic, I mean those bandit bastards that think they have a right to shoot anything that moves. Hit 'em where it hurts. Destroy their fuel tanks so we can ride free!"
We need to hit those Bandits where it hurts, which means destroying three of their fuel tanks. Head west from Lucky’s Watering Hole until you reach this location on your map. When there you’ll see a small house, so enter through the front door, dispose of any Scythids that have taken refuge inside and continue through to the backyard. Here you’ll find the first fuel tank, so shoot at it to blow it up.
You may have noticed that this area plays host to a race track of sorts. You may also have noticed that, when killing Scythids, that a counter for the mission “Death Race Pandora” has been clocking up kills. So, you may want to complete that mission before you leave for the next fuel tank. If so, more information can be found below.
Exit the house via the door you came through and travel north until you reach this location. The second fuel tank is located inside a Bandit camp which is heavily guarded. Before entering, stay inside your vehicle and pick off any enemies that are in view. This is a lot easier than bowling into the encampment and finding yourself overwhelmed. To the left of the fuel tank are two red chests which can be looted.
When you’ve destroyed the second fuel tank, head southeast to locate the third and final fuel tank, which again is placed inside a small Bandit camp. Use the same method you used when approaching the second fuel tank and pick off any Bandits in your vehicle.
When all three fuel tanks are destroyed, you can return to Lucky’s Bounty Board to complete the mission, but as you’re close-by, I’d recommend completing the “Ghost Of The Vault” side mission.
Level: 20
Rewards: 5280XP, $2893, Explosive Artifact
Prerequisites: Powering the Fast Travel Network
Objectives: Visit the Haunted Excavation and recover the Elemental Artifact
"This is Tannis. I was digging in the Dahl Headland, and came very close to uncovering an Elemental Artifact, most likely from the Vault. I was forced to abandon the dig when my brain-dead team quit. They said they saw ghosts, or Bigfoot, or something. If you're someone who isn't a superstitious dolt, I invite you to recover the artifact for yourself. Here's the freight lift code so you can access the site."
From where you destroyed the third fuel tank, head north and work your way around the rocks and up the hill until you reach some metal walkways. You should now be directly west from where you started. Here you’ll be greeted by a few Bandits, none of which should give you any real problems.
Once the area is clear, locate the elevator controls and head downwards into the excavation site. When you reach the bottom, there will be a host of Bandits to deal with including a Bruiser and a Badass Psycho. However, there are enough obstacles around this area to take cover behind. When these are dealt with, proceed up the passage.
Entering the Haunted Excavation will spawn some Guardian Spectres and Guardian Wraiths. These can be particularly annoying due to their teleportation abilities, along with their speed of attacks. Make sure, as always, to aim for the head. They have a very low amount of health points, so as soon as their tough shields have been depleted; it shouldn’t take long to kill them off.
Once you’ve dealt with these apparitions, interact with the Elemental Artifact which is located on the alter at the back of this area, to complete the mission. Don’t forget to loot the red chest next to it either.
Exit the Excavation site and travel to the north of the map to start the next side mission: Well There’s Your Problem Right There.
Level:18
Rewards: 6,000XP, $7,689
Prerequisites: Powering the Fast Travel Network
Objectives: Close all Fuel Pipe Valves around the Lucky's Last Chance
"What with all the gunfights going on around here, my fuel pipes have got more holes than Swiss cheese. I think the system is salvageable. I just need somebody to close a few valves for me. I'd do it myself, but I'm afraid there'd soon be holes in me, too!"
You won’t be able to travel all the way to your waypoint marker in your vehicle as you won’t be able to squeeze in between the rocks, so you’ll need to complete to rest of the [small] journey on foot. The area here is swarming with Scythids, so beware. To the northwest of this area is the first valve; interact with it to close it.
From here, continue southwards until you reach the Bandit encampment that we stole the bait for Skagzilla from earlier in the game (located here for those with short memories). Locate the second valve and close it off.
We’ll now need to head north slightly towards the Vehicle Station, located here on your map. You’ll find that the valve is unreachable at ground level as it’s located inside a large metal cage. To gain access to it, head to the left side of the cage and jump on top of the roof of the Vehicle Station. Turn right and jump onto the ledge in among the rocks, turn right again and jump up some more rocks which will take you above the valve. Jump over onto the metal sheet, jump down through the hole in the cage and turn off the valve. Mission complete.
While we’re in this area, let’s complete another Scavenger mission:
Level: 20
Rewards: 3,036XP, Revolver
Prerequisites: Powering the Fast Travel Network
Objectives: Find all of the revolver parts
"There are components to a revolver scattered around. If you find all of these components, I can reassemble the weapon for you. Bring me the Body, cylinder, sight, and barrel."
If you’re not there already, head to this location on your map (if you did the previous mission “Well There’s Your Problem Right There”, you’ll already be in the right area).
The first part (the Sight) is located above where the third valve was, on the metal sheet we jumped on earlier. The second part (the Cylinder) is located just to the right of the Sight, but to get there you’ll need to jump back onto the roof of the Vehicle Garage, face north and jump over to the platform.
Jump down to ground level and enter the Vehicle Garage to locate the third part (the Body). Facing the garage, turn around 180 degrees where you’ll find an old, beat up Runner in among the rocks in front of you. Inside the cockpit of this Runner you’ll find the fourth and final part (the Barrel).
Once you have all 4 parts, head back to Lucky’s Bounty Board to turn in the mission.
Level: 20
Rewards: 5,280XP, $4,099, Weapon
Prerequisites: Powering the Fast Travel Network
Objectives: Kill the Scythid Crawlers at the racetrack
"There's an old race track in the Dahl Headland, called the Ludicrous Speedway. It was great in its day, but it's been abandoned since the corporations pulled out. I'm thinking of reopening the place, but there's a catch. It's been overrun with vermin. I need someone to go out there and kill all the bugs."
Just to the south of where we destroyed the first fuel tank for the “Fuel Feud” mission earlier on (located here), you’ll notice a race track, humorously named after one of the lines quoted in Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs film – the Ludicrous Speedway – “Yes, we’re gonna have to go right to ludicrous speed”.
If you grab a vehicle and race around the track in a counter-clockwise direction, not only will an abundance of Scythids spawn which can then be run over, but you can earn an achievement for racing around the track in less than 31 seconds. Make use of your Turbo and try to utilise the available shortcuts; the one on the left wall as you enter the tunnel is the best one to use. As soon as you cross the start/finish line (the banner attached to the building), the timer will begin. Note that there is no visible timer, so you’ll need to do this blind, so to speak. You can attempt this as many times as you like; just keep circling around the track.
Getting back to the mission, there should be more than enough Scythids to run over in this area. Once you’ve killed 50 Scythids, return back to Lucky’s Bounty Board to complete the mission.
Level: 18
Rewards: 2,400XP, $1,922
Unlocks: Road Warriors: Bandit Apocalypse
Objectives: Eliminate Bandit Runner Patrols
"Mad Mel has blocked the road to New Haven, and he spends most of his time terrorizing the southern part of the Headland. He hardly ever comes up here. If you want him to face you, you'll need to get his attention first. What says "I'm going to kick your ass" better than killing a bunch of his men and destroying a lot of his hardware?"
Due to "Mad Mel's" road blocking antics, we can't gain access to New Haven. To grab his attention, we’ll need to send him a strong message by blowing up a few of his vehicular patrols; eight to be exact. Grab yourself a vehicle and head to the waypoint marker, just west of Lucky's Last Chance Watering Hole. Here you'll find patrol cars that will spawn at random times; there doesn't seem to be an exact science behind the spawn timings. It's better to hang around this area than to go off wandering around as you’ll get the chance to go one-on-one rather than being accosted by a gang of patrols.
Be prepared to die... a lot. The patrols are relentlessly accurate and can destroy your vehicle within a few seconds, which is a shame as the cost of respawning soon mounts up. However, keep persevering and you'll have amounted all eight within a few minutes. Once you have, head back to Lucky to turn in this mission and begin the last story-related mission in the Dahl Headlands.
Level: 20
Rewards: 10,560XP, $9,646, Weapon Equip Slot SDU
Unlocks: Power to the People
Objectives: Kill Mad Mel, then talk to Claptrap to be allowed into New Haven
"You've decimated the bandit fleet in this area, and Mad Mel must respond or his men will take it as a sign of weakness. Seek him out in the Dahl Headland and end him. Be careful. He is a lethal weapon in any vehicle. After he's dead, you can continue on your way to New Haven. Talk to the Claptrap at the gate."
From Lucky's, jump in a vehicle and head south and to the right of the Dahl Headlands Electrical Station that we were at earlier, so that you're heading down a narrow road, following your waypoint marker until you come to a small arena. Entering it will trigger the boss fight with Mad Mel himself. Before Mad Mel appears, you'll need to destroy a few Out Riders first which shouldn't be too taxing. A few Bandits will also spawn, but these shouldn't pose a problem as you’re in a vehicle so you can just run them over.
Eventually Mad Mel will appear in a pimped out Runner, equipped with a very powerful Rocket Launcher and a machine gun. Let it be known that you will die in this fight; if you don’t, you’re lying! There's no doubt that he'll destroy your Runner in a matter of seconds. If he does, try and grab a Second Wind from one of the accompanying Bandits and finish him off with your own weapons.
If you do actually die, you'll respawn right outside the arena where you can either jump back in a vehicle and continue where you left off, or for the more cunning among you, you can simply camp on the ramp that leads into the arena and pick him off with a sniper rifle. Personally, I found it easier to kill him using a Machine Gun Runner, locking onto him and continually firing and moving; his rockets were missing as I slowly chipped away at his health.
When Mad Mel is no more, visit the Claptrap at the entrance to New Haven by driving southeast. Inform him of Mad Mel's unfortunate death where he'll grant you access to New Haven.
Bid farewell to the Dahl Headlands as we’ve completed all of the missions in this area. However, we will be back at a later point in the game.
A checklist of missions in the Dahl Headlands is below:
Big Game Hunter (Ernest Whitting – 20)
Getting Lucky (Ernest Whitting – 18)
Powering The Fast Travel Network(Lucky Zaford – 20)
Scavenger: Revolver (Lucky’s Bounty Board – 20)
Fuel Feud (Lucky’s Bounty Board – 18)
Death Race Pandora (Lucky’s Bounty Board – 20)
Ghosts of the Vault (Lucky’s Bounty Board – 18)
Well There's Your Problem Right There (Lucky’s Bounty Board – 18)
Road Warriors: Hot Shots(Lucky Zaford – 18)
Road Warriors: Bandit Apocalypse(Lucky Zaford – 20)
When inside New Haven, head north towards the administrator of New Haven's office: Helena Pierce. Speak with her to complete the mission.
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